What should you ensure regarding students before starting the trip?

Before starting the trip, it is imperative to ensure that all students are authorized to ride the bus. This is crucial for safety and liability reasons. Authorized riders have parental or guardian permissions to travel on the bus, which helps maintain control over who is on the bus and ensures that only students with permission to ride are allowed. This protects both the students and the driver, as it prevents unauthorized individuals from getting on the bus, which could pose safety and security risks.

Other considerations, such as students being familiar with the route, packing snacks, or knowing emergency contacts, while important, do not directly pertain to the critical aspect of ensuring only those who are authorized are present for the trip. Maintaining a secure and safe environment for students by verifying authorization is a fundamental responsibility of a school bus driver.